Iowa Republican State Sen. Joni Ernst is inching ahead among likely voters in the U.S. Senate
race and now has 49 percent to 45 percent for U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democrat, according
to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Five percent remain undecided.

This compares to results of an October 23 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-
uh-pe-ack) University, showing Sen. Ernst at 48 percent and Rep. Braley at 46 percent.

The reverse gender gap in this race continues as women back the Democratic man
50 - 42 percent, while men back the Republican woman 56 - 39 percent.

Braley leads 57 - 36 percent among those who already have voted.

Just six days before Election Day, 91 percent of Iowa likely voters who name a Senate
candidate say their mind is made up, while 9 percent say they might change their mind.

"As Election Day nears, State Sen. Joni Ernst is closing in on Iowa's open U.S. Senate
seat. Her lead over U.S. Rep. Brue Braley inches up to 49 - 45 percent, giving her the
momentum with less than a week left in the campaign," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of
the Quinnipiac Poll.

"Nothing is for sure, but one would certainly rather be in her shoes this morning than
Braley's. One piece of good news for the Democrat is that he has a 21-point lead among those
who already have voted.

"Ernst's lead is built upon a 9-point lead among independent voters and a larger lead
among men than Braley is able to muster among women," Brown added. "And, in what was a
strongly negative campaign, she emerged from the mud-slinging with voters liking her a bit
more, usually an advantage that tends to translate into votes."

Iowa likely voters are divided on their feelings about the candidates:

Ernst gets a 45 - 43 percent favorability;

Braley gets a slightly negative 40 - 43 percent likability score.

Governor's Race

State Sen. Jack Hatch, the Democratic challenger in the governor's race, makes no
progress in his bid to unseat the Iowa Institution, Republican Gov. Terry Hatch, who leads
56 - 37 percent among likely voters. This is essentially unchanged from the results of an
October 23 Quinnipiac University poll.

Men, women, Republicans and independent voters all back the long-time governor, while
Democrats back Hatch 85 - 11 percent. Hatch leads 50 - 43 percent among those who already
have voted.

Only 7 percent of voters who name a candidate say they might change their mind in the
next six days while 93 percent say their mind is made up,

Branstad gets a 56 - 34 percent favorability rating, compared to Hatch's 32 - 29 percent
score, with 36 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

"Democrats thought Gov. Terry Branstad might be vulnerable because roughly half of
Iowa voters thought he had been in office too long," Brown said. "But his reelection was never
in doubt. One key indication: more than a third of voters say they don't know enough about his
Democratic opponent to have an opinion. They never bothered to find out because they knew
they would be voting for Branstad."

From October 22 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 817 likely voters with a margin
of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Colorado, Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

1. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Jack Hatch the Democrat and Terry Branstad the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for Hatch or Branstad? (Table includes leaners)

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Jack Hatch the Democrat and Terry Branstad the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for Hatch or Branstad? (Table includes leaners)

4. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bruce Braley the Democrat and Joni Ernst the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for Braley or Ernst? (Table includes leaners)

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bruce Braley the Democrat and Joni Ernst the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for Braley or Ernst? (Table includes leaners)